JOB DESCRIPTION AND SELECTION CRITERIA

Catering Service Assistant

Department / SCR/Hall
Salary / £18,200 per annum (£8.75 an hour)
Hours / 2080 hours per annum (based on a notional 40 hours per week) on a rota basis, including evening, weekend and bank holidays. Working hours will vary in accordance with the weekly duty roster notified in advance by the Head of Department.This post does not attract overtime.
Contract type / Permanent following a satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period.
Reporting to / Head Butler and/or Deputy Head Butler
Contact / SCR/Hall staff, kitchen staff, students, Fellows, visitors, casual workers
Additional information / Holiday entitlement will be 25 days including the College's closed periods of five days at Christmas, plus bank holidays. Due to operational requirements, you may be required to work on any of the bank holidays, for which time off in lieu will be provided.
A uniform is provided
Parking is not available; however the College provides a bus pass scheme and a designated area for bicycles.
Further details on staff benefits can be found on the back page
Start date / As soon as possible
Standards /

Wadham College

Wadham is one of the largest of the colleges of the University of Oxford, with approximately 450 undergraduates, 170 postgraduates, around 70 Fellows and over 100 staff. Founded in 1610, Wadham celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2010. It has an annual turnover of some £10M and reserves in excess of £100M.

Wadham attracts undergraduate and postgraduate students from a wide range of backgrounds thanks to its informal atmosphere, academic strength, historic environment and the open-minded, progressive and socially aware attitude of its community. Wadham College is proud to be a Living Wage employer and has been awarded Investors in People since 2003.

The College’s Governing Body consists of the Warden and Fellows and is chaired by the Warden. The current Warden is Lord Macdonald QC, who came to Wadham in September 2012, and is one of the country’s top criminal lawyers and a former Director of Public Prosecutions.

More information about Wadham College can be found at

General Overview

The SCR/Hall team is a well-regarded, experienced department whose full-time management team comprises of:

  • A Head Butler
  • A Deputy Head Butler
  • A Senior Assistant Butler

The team also includes Assistant Butlers, Catering Service Assistants, SCR/Hall Assistants, a SCR Assistant and additional support from casual workers on a flexible basis. The team works closely together to support one another, if required, and regular team meetings are held to ensure everyone is kept up-to-date with key events.

The Catering Service Assistant is a key member of the SCR/Hall team in providing the highest standard of catering service, cleanliness and hygiene. The post-holder will work across all catering service areas and departments to provide cover during colleagues’ absences for events, late and early meals. The post-holder will be working daily in Refectory, Hall and other parts of the College as required.

Responsibilities and duties

  1. Working as part of a busy catering team and liaising with members of kitchen staff.
  2. Serving a variety of people at all levels including students, Fellows, staff and conference guests.
  3. Carrying out daily routine tasks for example:
  4. waiting on tables;
  5. setting up tables and servicing college events;
  6. operating equipment including PC/till;
  7. assisting in food service;
  8. cleaning of all service areas and ensuring this meets with hygiene procedures and regulations and cleaning schedule.
  1. Carrying out cleaning as per schedules.
  2. Maintaining visual checks within work area identifying possible hazards and rectify or report to the Head Butler or SBA.
  3. Adhering to the correct procedures according to COSHH regulations when using approved chemicals. Working safely and complying with all Health and Safety regulations and COSHH.
  4. Complying with the Food Safety Act and General Food Hygiene Regulations.
  5. Ensuring that high standards of personal hygiene and presentation are adhered to at all times, including wearing appropriate uniform and PPE.
  6. To supervise staff and casual workers when directed to do so.
  7. To comply with security procedures.
  8. To attend training when required.
  9. To maintain strict confidentiality at all times.
  10. To work as part of a busy team
  11. To be flexible and willing to help colleagues when required.
  12. To undertake any other duties commensurate with the role.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential

  1. Demonstrable experience of working in a similar catering role or catering environment.
  2. Experience of working in a role with direct contact (face to face) with people.
  3. Experience of working as part of a team.
  4. Good communication skills, including the ability to communicate with staff, students and visitors.
  5. The ability to deliver excellent customer service.
  6. A good standard of spoken and written English.
  7. Basic knowledge and understanding of Health and Safety issues, particularly related to food hygiene.
  8. Capable and willing to work on own initiative.
  9. Attention to detail.
  10. The ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
  11. Willing and capable to be flexible, including working shifts and weekends.
  12. Possess a valid Food Hygiene qualification, or be willing to train for one.
  13. A willingness to undertake on and off the job training.
  14. To be friendly, honest and reliable
  15. To be presentable and maintain dress and department standards

Desirable

  1. A catering qualification
  2. Previous experience of large institution working, e.g. schools, colleges, hotels etc.
  3. Awareness of any of the University of Oxford Colleges.
  4. Previous experience of manual handling and COSHH

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants are asked to submit an application form, including the contact details of two individuals willing to act as referees:

  1. The first referee should be the applicant’s current or most recent line manager or Head of Department.
  2. The second referee should ideally be a former line manager, Head of Department or someone with supervisory responsibilities.

Applicants should ensure that they outline the reasons for their interest on the application form and the qualities they feel would make them particularly suitable for this position. Applications will be judged solely on the basis of how the applicant demonstrates that they meet the selection criteria outlined above.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 12 noonon7 March 2018. Shortlisted applicants will be notified thereafter for interview and all applicants will receive a response as soon as possible (usually within three weeks). Applications should be sent to: or alternatively the HR Department at Wadham College, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PN.

Special arrangements

The College welcomes applications from candidates who have a disability. These documents will be made available in large print, audio or other formats on request. Applicants invited for interview will be asked whether they have any special requirements to make the interview more convenient and effective for them.

Wadham College Equality Statement

Subject to statutory provisions, the aim of our policy is to ensure that no applicant, student, or member of staff will be discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or parenthood, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation, or be disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be permitted by law.

BENEFITS OF WORKING AT WADHAM COLLEGE

Training and Development Opportunities / Further details can be found at:
College Discretionary Bonus Scheme / Staff are able to receive a share of the College Bonus Scheme, subject to eligibilityand the conditions of the scheme.
Free Staff Meals / Staff are entitled to take a free lunch when on duty and the kitchen is open.
Corporate Discounts (through the University of Oxford) / Below is an example of the discounts available (this list is not exhaustive)
  • 10% discount in some University shops
  • Free entry to Oxford colleges and libraries which charge for admission
  • Discounted computer software from the University Computing Service
  • Free access to the University Botanical Gardens
  • Discounted membership of the Iffley Road gym and swimming pool

Access to Wadham Gardens and Leisure Facilities / Staff may use the gardens at Wadham, sports ground pitches and tennis courts (located on Marston Ferry Road, Oxford). Wadham College hires a punt annually from the Cherwell Boat House which staff are permitted to hire for a small fee and a squash court is also available within the College. The University Club provides social, sporting and hospitality facilities. It incorporates a Club bar, a cafe and sporting facilities, including a gym.
Staff Entertainment / The College arranges social events including charity raffles, coffee mornings, cake sales, quiz nights, staff Christmas party and children’s Christmas party.
Pension / The University offers generous occupational pension schemes for eligible staff members.
Opportunity to join the Oxford Staff Pension Scheme (OSPS). Details are available online at:
General information about university pensions can be found at
Travel / The College offers travel schemes and public transport travel discounts to staff. Full details are available from the College.
Nurseries and Childcare Vouchers / The University offers quality childcare provision services at affordable prices to College staff. For full details about the services offered, please visit Due to the high demand for nursery places there is a long waiting list, although Wadham offers a limited number of places on a sponsored priority scheme to help reduce the waiting time.
Until 5 April 2018Wadhamis able to offer childcare vouchers, subject to eligibility through the Computershare voucher scheme. Further details can be found at:
Private Medical Insurance / The Oxford Colleges’ Healthcare Scheme is available to eligible staff and further details are available from the College. Members of staff are expected to contribute to the scheme.
Discounted Guest Rooms / Staff may on occasion book a room at Wadham College, subject to availability. Staff are entitled to receive a discount on accommodation during our College vacation periods, subject to terms and conditions.

Updated: February 2018